Schools, District Assembly closed down over death of two at Foase

Schools at Foase and the Atwima Kwanwoma District Asembly in the Ashanti Region have been shut down, following a clash between the police and residents that left two people dead.

The Wednesday evening clash was triggered by an attempt by the police to restrain rampaging youth from engaging in a violent demonstration against the relocation of the district capital from Foase to Twedie.

The Atwima Kwanwoma district was carved out of the Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma district almost a decade ago.

The district capital was sited at Foase, but a court ruling in 2012 directed the relocation of the district capital to Twedie.

District Chief Executive, Nana Okyere Tawiah, on Wednesday, visited the palace of the Foasehene to inform the chief on preparations to move to the new district capital.

Minutes later, aggrieved residents of Foase trooped to the local assembly to disrupt work. They blocked the main road leading to the town, locked up the DCE and vandalized property.

The police dispatched two reinforcement teams to the town to restore order.

Two residents died from gunshots while 15 others, including police personnel, got injured in the clash between the residents and the police.

A day after the incident, the assembly block and schools at Foase remained closed.

Some youth were still demonstrating when TV3 arrived in the community.

The chief of Foase, Nana Bediako Appiah Ampam, expressed disappointment in the relocation of the district capital to Twedie.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at the assembly block and major streets within Foase to avert further violence.

Ashanti regional deputy police commander, DCOP Fred Adu Anim, who confirmed the deaths to TV3 news, said the regional command has commenced investigations into the matter.